Emily Upjohn clear Nassau Stakes favourite with Opera Singer 'remarkably weak' in the market for Glorious Goodwood Group 1

Emily Upjohn is now outright favourite for Thursday's Qatar Nassau Stakes (3.35), with Opera Singer proving significantly weak in the market for the Group 1.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained Emily Upjohn has yet to win this season and endured an agonising defeat when reeled in by Bluestocking in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh last time.

However, that loss has not put off punters. Having been supplemented for the Nassau, she is now the 9-4 favourite (from 9-2) to provide Kieran Shoemark with a notable maiden Group 1 win for John and Thady Gosden.

Having been 9-4 first thing, Opera Singer has drifted slightly to 5-2 as she bids to get back to winning ways following two respectable defeats in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes.

Paddy Power's Paul Binfield said: "The owners have shown their faith in Emily Upjohn by supplementing her and punters seem to be taking that as a hint that she has a huge shout at going one better than her fine second last time in the Pretty Polly when she was collared late on by Bluestocking."

Opera Singer has also been a big drifter with William Hill, who are now 3-1 about the daughter of Justify's chances.

Its spokesperson Lee Phelps said: "We fully expected Opera Singer to be popular, but she’s remarkably weak at 3-1, as all the money has been for Emily Upjohn."

Prix de Diane heroine Sparkling Plenty is a 9-2 shot, while 1,000 Guineas winner Elmalka has also been a notable drifter. She is now 9-1, having been a 7-1 chance early on Thursday.

Posted at 11.25am

Galway Hurdle favourite Petrol Head out of the race by order of the stewards

Petrol Head, the heavily supported favourite for the Guinness Galway Hurdle (5.05), will not run after being withdrawn from the race by order of the stewards.

Trained by Katy Brown, the eight-year-old was the general 6-1 market leader for the prestigious contest, having won his two previous starts. He had come in for sustained support throughout the morning having been as big as 10-1 in places.

However, he will not run after he was ordered to be scratched just after midday. His defection means a field of 19 go to post with Jesse Evans and Under Control the leading fancies.

Goodwood stays good to firm after missing thunderstorms

The going remains good to firm for day three of Glorious Goodwood after the thunderstorms and rain which hit other parts of Britain overnight missed the track.

The ground quickened to its current description (from good to firm, good in places) following the fifth race on Wednesday, when temperatures at the West Sussex track reached 27C.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms across most parts of the country on Wednesday night, but they did not materialise at Goodwood.

The track also watered after racing on Wednesday, with irrigation done on the bends and 5mm of water put on the straight. Conditions are expected to be warm and sunny again for day three of the five-day festival.

Speaking just before 8am, clerk of the course Ed Arkell said: "We missed all the rain last night and the going remains good to firm. Overall it's 7.7 on the GoingStick, which is where we started yesterday. We're set for a fine day with a ten to 15 per cent chance of a shower later on."

Thursday's feast of action is headlined by the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes (3.35), which features a fascinating clash between Opera Singer, Emily Upjohn, Prix de Diane winner Sparkling Plenty and 1,000 Guineas heroine Elmalka.

Arkell added: "It's a race which always produces fascinating horses and stories and this year it's exactly the same. I'd say it's probably one of my favourite races and it's delivered again."

The going is unchanged at Galway, where the feature is the Guinness Galway Hurdle (5.05). It is good, good to yielding in places on the jumps track and yielding on the Flat course.

Clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer said: "It's on the kinder side for jumping. We're doing a little bit of selective watering on the chase track today to keep the moisture in. The forecast is just like yesterday, mild and dry with some passing showers possible, but of no real volume."

Non-runners

Goodwood

1.50: 7. Per Contra (Going), 10. Blake (Going), 13. Aviemore (Going)
4.10: 6. Defence Missile (Going)
5.20: 1. Amica (Going)
5.55: 2. Cerulean Bay (Going), 20. Diddy Man (Going), 4. Mount Teide (Going)

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'A great spectacle' in store with Opera Singer and Emily Upjohn among host of Group 1 winners duelling in open Nassau Stakes 

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